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EXCLUSIVE: Clooney on Weinstein: ‘Two things have to come out of this.’

EXCLUSIVE: Clooney on Weinstein: ‘Two things have to come out of this.’

MiNDFOOD caught up with George Clooney to discuss life as a parent, his new film and the treatment of women in Hollywood. The 56-year-old actor, director and philanthropist took a moment off from promoting his new film, Suburbicon, which premiers in the United States later this week.

A thriller starring Matt Damon, Julianne Moore and Oscar Issac, Suburbicon is directed, co-written and co-produced by Clooney. In the trailer, Damon is seen riding a child’s bike, which Clooney says was intentional. “Anytime you can put Matt in some horrible situation, punch him in the face…it’s just fun,” he jokes.

Referring to his experience as a parent in Hollywood, Clooney says so far it’s been good. “I’ve been a parent and done post-production, but I haven’t been a parent and done shooting – so it’ll be interesting to see what that’s like,” he adds.

Clooney then discusses the Weinstein scandal. “He would tell me he had affairs with women [but] I thought he was just bragging about his behaviour,” he admits. “I think differently now that I know Harvey was assaulting people [and] silencing women… I knew Harvey as the guy who made good films.”

He adds that he is hopeful permanent change will stick. “The two things that have to come out of this is that women feel safe enough to come out and talk about it, and be believed. And that men, knowing that, are less likely to act in the way that they’ve been acting. There’s too many instances where these men, these predators, have been allowed to get away with something.”